Rheumatoid arthritis is one of the most baffling and feared of all human ailments. Perhaps this is due, in large part, to the many conflicting hypotheses and theorems that abound throughout the medical field about this dreaded disorder. Each day we hear of new and often conflicting discoveries that supposedly shed light on why certain people are more susceptible to contracting this ailment than others. All of this uncertainty tends to create an atmosphere of fear and distrust toward anyone claiming to have yet another ‘cure.’

In recent years there have been two widely disseminated theories about rheumatoid arthritis. On the one hand, medical researchers have claimed there is a definite connection between heredity and the likelihood of someone developing it. On the other hand, a number of medical doctors have expressed their belief that this and other forms of arthritis can be traced to a rogue virus or other micro-organism. As well meaning as these theories may be, there is another position that deserves critical evaluation.

Rheumatoid arthritis is primarily caused by a lack of biochemical sodium reserves in the body. I’m not referring to the table salt variety that the human body cannot metabolize efficiently. When the body’s organic sodium reserves are low a number of physiological changes begin to occur. Acid stomach, chronic constipation, joint swelling, calcification and bone spurs, excessive flatulence and stiff joints – any trained observer will recognize these symptoms as manifestations of arthritis. Although hereditary factors or rogue viral strains may not be present, low sodium reserves are detected in over 90% of such cases when these symptoms are evident.

Among other important functions, the body uses different combinations of organic sodium to neutralize excess systemic acids, to help remove metabolic waste products from cells and to keep calcium in solution so that it doesn’t precipitate in the joints and soft tissues. This is basic biochemistry that anyone suffering from any arthritic affliction should know. It stands to reason that if organic sodium is the primary element the body utilizes to keep calcium in solution, one would certainly want to ensure that his or her sodium reserves were kept well stocked at all times.

As sensible as this may be, the lack of knowledge on this subject is what causes so much needless suffering in our society. During the 11 years I spent studying with world renowned natural health advocate, lecturer and practitioner, Jorgen Bernard Jensen, DC, ND, PhD, at his Hidden Valley Health Ranch, in Escondido, California, I personally witnessed the power of organic sodium to reverse various forms of arthritis – even in advanced stages. I came to know, without a doubt, that rheumatoid arthritis can be managed and, in many cases, reversed at virtually any age. This can happen provided there is an understanding of the vital role organic sodium plays in any serious effort to recover from rheumatoid arthritis.

The side effects of Reserpine and Respen-A is something I have been asked about by many people. And we have seen in the study done in 1957 where normal doses were 3 – 7 mg, in doses that were high, 10 – 12 mg, reactions like those seen people with Parkinson’s occurred like dry mouth, excessive sleep and irritability. The typical dose to treat high blood pressure is .5 mg and above that dose we see increase association with depression. What appears to happen is that MAO-A activity is stimulated which then has a metabolic effect on serotonin. If serotonin is not being replenished then over time there can be a depletion which can lead to depression.

A majority of the side effects of Respen-A and Reserpine appear to be connected with low blood calcium. Issues with agitation, irritability, fatigue, muscle aches and crankiness can result from low blood calcium. The makers of Respen-A determined the need for calcium supplementation to help counter these side effects that were seen in higher doses of Reserpine and in some kids using Respen-A who were not getting enough calcium. The high dose of calcium required with this therapy has raised concerns in doctors within the community, and in myself when I first started using this therapy as well. The general recommendation is 2,000 mg of calcium between 30 minutes and 1 hour prior to putting on the Respen-A patch. Because we know Reserpine can deplete calcium levels, this allows the body to raise levels up so that we don’t see the agitation, irritability, twitching and muscle aches that can come from a lack of calcium. Some of my own patients have had this happen when their calcium levels were not sufficient.

There is a concern about the possibility of too much calcium leading to calcium imbalances. However, in my own practice, I check blood tests and calcium levels and have not see the issue of excess calcium at all. I have also not heard from other physicians using Respen-A that this is a problem. And lastly, the people at Respen-A have not reported any issues with the amount of calcium suggested.

There have been a few children in my practice with an intolerance to calcium and that is a different issue but I have not seen serum or physiological evidence of calcium toxicity using this therapy. Possibly the regulatory effect of Respen-A keeps calcium levels balanced. So the reason for the need of this high dose calcium is due to the depletion on cellular calcium levels and taking calcium with Respen-A prevents some of the common side effects like agitation and irritability which can be caused by calcium depletion.

Acne can be a big problem for most teenagers. However, you can get rid of acne quick and fast with some simple tips and tricks.

Here are a few:

1. Drink Plenty of Water – Water is great for your body and health. It can help flush out toxins from your system. This can be great to calm down acne flare ups. Another benefit of drinking a lot of water is that it can keep your skin smooth and supple.

2. Avoid Junk Food – Junk foods specially those that are rich in fats and sugars can aggravate acne. You must try to avoid such foods.

3. Apply Ice to Your Pimples – This can be a great way to feel the cool effect. It can actually reduce swelling and make the pimple less prominent.

4. Wash Your Face Twice a Day – Washing is important but over indulgence can be counter productive. Moreover, it is important to use a mild cleanser that is light on your skin. A harsh or strong face wash can strip your skin off its natural oil barrier and this can make your skin produce even more oil which can further deteriorate the condition. Hence, it is best to use a mild face wash.

5. Reduce Stress – Stress is not just bad for your overall health but for your skin as well. Stress tends to increase the production of hormone Cortisol that is known to aggravate acne.

6. Watch Your Make up – It is important to avoid oil based make up since it can further deteriorate the condition. Use water based or natural cosmetics.

7. Get Your Beauty Sleep – Sleep deprivation is one of the causes behind acne flare ups. Lack of sleep tends to build stress which is again bad for your skin.

8. Have Antioxidants – Green tea is a great antioxidant. It helps your body get clear of harmful toxins and other chemicals. Not just this, it is also proven to be highly effective in curing skin conditions like acne and eczema.

Last but not the least, get a good anti acne product that not only treats the problem locally but also cures it from the inside. It is important to keep in mind that acne is not just a skin deep problem. It is deeply rooted and your hormones are involved in those flare ups that you really hate.

Try to cure acne with a complete acne system that consists of a face wash, conditioning lotion, vanisher mask and a great antioxidant that can help you clear pimples and prevent future flare ups as well.

Looking for some reliable and effective tips to get rid of severe acne? You have definitely come to the right place. This article is all about showing you the best tips on how to remove acne for good. By using the tips contained in this article, you will undoubtedly achieve great results.

1. Tea Tree Oil

Tea tree oil is the best natural topical solution for acne. It is very effective because it contains highly effective antibacterial properties that can help kill the bacteria which causes the development of acne in the first place. It is a very good solution to deal with the infections on the skin. Highly recommended.

2. Drink more water

Water is essential to sustain life. It is also required to maintain healthy skin and ensure smooth detoxification. Water helps to remove the toxins that can disrupt your body’s immune system and hormonal system. With a better immune system, you will be able to prevent future infections and accelerate the healing of current blemishes. A regulated hormone system will prevent excessive production of facial oil which leads to pore clogging and ultimately acne.

3. Carrot Juice

Carrots contain high amounts of vitamin A and fibers. Since eating raw carrots is hardly anyone’s favorite activity, drinking a pure carrot juice can easily provide your body with all the vitamin A and fibers required to clear up your skin. Vitamin A helps to control the sebum production. Fibers ensure good detoxification.

4. Garlic

Garlic is one of the most commonly used home remedies. In the case of acne, garlic is very effective as well. First of all, it improves the body’s immune system greatly. Secondly, it is anti-inflammatory. This means it helps to reduce the redness and swelling caused by acne.

5. Sleep

Sleep helps to regulate hormone levels, repair damaged skin cells and tissues, and improve the immune system. As you can see, it is very important that you get at least 8 hours of restorative sleep on a nightly basis so that you stay healthy.

6. Zinc

Zinc aids to regulate both hormone levels and facial oil production. Other than that, zinc boosts the body’s immune system greatly. The easiest and best way to obtain sufficient amount of zinc is by taking a good zinc supplement.

If you use these tips on a daily basis, there will be no reason why you can’t achieve a clear skin!

The Spanish Smoking Ban outlawed smoking in the workplace in 2006, clamping down on the smoking freedom the “cafe-culture” country was so used to. That was until the 2nd of January of this year, 2011. Up till then restaurant and bar owners where allowed to choose a full or partial ban or no ban at all, which appealed to most owners. This now makes Spain home to one of the tightest anti-smoking laws in Europe, more in line with the UK and now enforces a total smoking ban in restaurants and bars, even requiring no one to light up near hospitals, or in playgrounds.

Some bar and restaurant owners are, of course, concerned that this tighter smoking ban will affect their trade, but the hope being that it will enable non-smokers (the majority of people in Spain) to take full advantage of Spain’s “cafe culture” without passive smoking causing a very unpleasant atmosphere, and of course, help to prevent smoking related illnesses.
Manufactures of electronic cigarettes are reporting strong growth in sales as anti-tobacco smoking laws force European smokers into the cold streets, but the traditionally heavy smoking nations, marks a potentially lucrative market for their much-criticised electronic cigarette; although anti smoking campaigners say the device is undercutting health efforts.
But according to a spokesman for one leading European manufacturer of electronic cigarettes, the product has seen a growth by as much as 30 percent each year since 2007.
Manufacturers of the electronic cigarettes such as EdSylver for instance claim, their plastic cigarette is far less harmful for the smoker or people around them, than the tobacco variety of cigarette, but this claim is rejected by health experts. Who say they “sabotaged smoking prevention efforts”, which were designed to encourage people to quit smoking. It has to be said that most of these “smoking prevention efforts “are used with the aid of replacement nicotine therapy. There again it has been proved by other health experts that this type of smoking prevention is not succeeding. The very addictive nature of nicotine is the only product that makes smokers continue with their habit. The replacement nicotine therapy efforts rely on slowly reducing the nicotine dosage into the body. So if you are a smoker wishing to quit smoking but finding it very hard to give up the nicotine addiction, why not give the electronic cigarette method a try or at the very lest cut down on inhaling carbon monoxide and other smoking related illnesses.

Green Smoke is an electronic cigarette that looks and functions much like a tobacco cigarette with a few exceptions: it contains no ash, tar, or carbon monoxide that smokers are heavily exposed to with tobacco cigarettes. Instead of a traditional tobacco cigarette, with Green Smoke, the nicotine is vaporized into steam by an atomizer which allows the user to inhale a vapour that looks and feels just like smoke. It’s easy to use and maintain so you’re smoking experience is greener and cleaner than tobacco. And, if that’s not good enough, there’s no odour so your hair, clothes and hands won’t smell, and you won’t disrupt the people around you. You also save 60% more money when compared with tobacco cigarettes! With Green Smoke, you can get the most realistic smoking experience in a cheaper, easier and cleaner way than with tobacco cigarettes.

As one of our customers who has given up smoking tobacco, but is using one of the flavoured cartridges has said, he is very happy with it, he just want’s to repeat the feeling of smoking, without the harm of nicotine.

Do you like to go out on the weekends, or even on weeknights and have a good time? Does it often result in very late nights? If you answer yes to these questions and you also experience insomnia and regular sleep problems, then this article will have some important information for you.

The work hard all week to play hard on the weekend mentality is fine for most people, especially young folks. They naturally are able to handle losing a bit of sleep and always recover. For most people though, the opposite is the case. Just one late night out partying can ruin an entire week or more of their sleep. Is this you?

Here’s why I’m mentioning this: You can’t find an article about how to sleep better and cure insomnia without hearing one important point over and over again. This point is that if you cannot establish a regular sleep routine and stick to it, that your sleep will never get better. It’s a very crucial part to dealing with sleep problems, especially serious ones.

If you’re serious about getting the rest that your body needs and you’re tired of suffering the consequences of sleep deprivation, then you need to take a step towards doing this.

There is no quick and easy fix, and this is what makes many people frustrated. We all want the easy fix, but rarely in life is that a realistic idea. The bottom line is that if you want to make a change there is often a bit of sacrifice to be made.

If you suffer from frequent sleep problems and you also go out and stay out late a lot, then it is absolutely necessary to change your habits.

The good news is that this sacrifice doesn’t really need to be as hard as it sounds. For instance, you can still have a good time. Just maybe go out for dinner and a movie and then go home. Or have friends over to your place and have a good time there. It is still possible to have a fun life without staying out until all hours of the night and ruining your very vital sleep cycle.

If you do this, you will recognize it as a great choice in the end. You’ll feel much more rested, healthy, energetic and your stress levels will go down. Life in general becomes more enjoyable because one of the most basic and important ingredients to a healthy life is now yours, and that is a good night’s rest every night.

That often embarrassing foul smell that emanates for the mouth is called halitosis. It is normally a sure indicator that something is quite wrong with your health. It can range from the mild halitosis but other times it becomes more permanent so you should see a doctor. It could sometimes be a sign of internal oral but also something to do with external oral issues.

The problems that are intraoral can give the mouth a bad smell which most instances are out of poor hygiene, periodonititis, stagnated food in the mouth, or teeth cavities. Some other cases occur because of diet that consist of garlic, strong smelling foods, raw onions and so forth. Xerostomia which is another name for dry mouth is another culprit, tonsillitis, other diseases such as cancer, kidney disorders and diabetes too can cause the same.

Halitosis can even originate from sinusitis, pneumonia, bronchitis and gastritis. This phenomenon can easily be tested at home. You can do this by exhaling with your mouth and nose covered by the hand. That is when you will likely notice a bad smell and realize that it is a symptom of halitosis. It is stronger especially if you do this in the mornings.

The reason it happens is due to less saliva in the mouth while one is asleep. The smelly mouth becomes fresh as soon as the teeth are brushed each morning, but of course if you are a smoker the halitosis will definitely continue.

One thing you must do is to see your dentist regularly to ascertain the reason for the bad breath. If it persists, you should first of all make a list of all the foods and medication you use.

The dentist should also be informed if you had any surgeries of late that could have any bearing to this. If nothing intraoral is detected, the next step is to get a medical practitioner to perform some tests.

Once the right diagnostics have been obtained, the right treatment plan will be given even though it is still important that you embark on proper oral hygiene to deter any dental problems. It also helps in making the breath fresh. All it takes is to brush your teeth twice each day, particularly after every meal to reduce the bad breath.

Dentists advice that one should brush the tongue also to remove the bacteria that normally would lodge in between the papillae. Of course those who make use of mouth rinses are also protected from other microorganisms too. Dental floss can be used to actually go in between the teeth. If you chew tobacco or smoke some, be sure to see your GP to advice how you can stop this dangerous habit.

The year was 1999. The summer of 1999, as a matter fact. I could not sleep; I was shaking all of the time. What was going on, I asked myself.

I decided to go see a doctor. My primary physician was not on my insurance plan, so I chose to go see somebody who was. He was a very nice man who was spiritual, which made me feel more comfortable, since I really did not know anything about him. After checking me over, his treatment plan was to get more exercise and keep going to church. Being so messed up, I went on my merry way without saying anything.

After a week or so, I was not feeling any better. Actually, I was getting worse. My father told me to go see my primary doctor because he knew me and I could afford the higher cost. So, I did. What a difference. After telling the doctor how I was feeling. he asked me all of the “legendary” questions regarding a diagnosis of depression. I think I answered “Yes” to all of them except the ones related to suicide. I had not gotten to that point, YET!

There I was, diagnosed with major depression. Since I had the lowest opinion of myself that anyone could possibly have, the question I asked myself was “What else could possibly go wrong in my life?”

The doctor prescribed anti-depressants and sleeping pills. I cannot remember which one because there were so many over the years. (I think it was Paxil.) God, was I happy, or so I thought. I asked him about therapy, not telling him that I had made an appointment with one already. Being the great “pill pusher” that so many medical professionals are, he said the anti-depressants would probably take care of about 90% of the depression.

Off I went, not able to get to the pharmacy fast enough. Give me the drugs, please give me the drugs. The euphoria over getting medication that might help me lasted just a short time.

I started learning about the Internet-it had so much information, I did some research on the anti-depressants and sleeping pills I had been prescribed. I learned about the possible side effects of psychotropic drugs, and guess what! Those drugs have the possibility of making you worse off than you already are.

This was perfect for me. I could focus on what could happen to me rather than what the “benefits” of the drugs might be. I mean, “Worry” was my middle name. I worried about the side effects of the anti-depressants and becoming dependent on the sleeping pills. Talk about a recipe for disaster. It was the main course.

Let us not forget that I started therapy the day after I was diagnosed with depression. Now, you see, I had to be a total “whack job” because therapy was for the total losers of the world. Could I put any bigger stigma on myself than being on anti-depressants and going to therapy? I think not!

Most people consider vitamin E as a very important anti-oxidant supplementation. In fact, many people think that this supplement can make one’s skin and hair glow with health. Furthermore, even the scientific community believes this famous vitamin has some anti-ageing property that can literally adjust the biological clock within each functioning cell.

But, do you ever wonder if vitamin E supplementation can help you with your battle with diabetes?Do you think it can help you in battling the complications brought about by your health problem?

Many clinical trials have disappointing outcomes in proving the value of vitamin E supplementation in people suffering with Type 2 diabetes. However, in a study published by Atherosclerosis, Thrombosis and Vascular Biology published in 2008, the initial findings of these clinical trials were proven incorrect and inaccurate. In this particular study it has been shown that vitamin E supplementation has the ability to reduce cardiovascular problems in so many people suffering from type 2 diabetes. The researchers of this study selected 1434 volunteers with Type 2 diabetes and aged fifty-five years old and more, to receive vitamin E supplements or a placebo as part of their diabetes treatment regimen. Eighteen months after commencing this, a review revealed some interesting findings.

The researchers’ findings:

The usual primary outcome of Type 2 diabetes, such as heart attack, stroke and cardiovascular deaths, has been significantly reduced in those diabetics who regularly took vitamin E food supplementation. Therefore, they have concluded that vitamin E supplementation indeed appears to have a beneficial effect in any one suffering from the complications of Type 2 diabetes.

In atherosclerosis:

This study published by Atherosclerosis, Thrombosis and Vascular Biology is supported by another laboratory study published by Diabetologia in 2004. In this study, it was discovered that vitamin E supplementation has the ability to improve your blood vessel walls, and this then reduces the tendency for fatty plaque formation in Type 2 diabetic laboratory animals. Plaque formation is popularly known to cause partial obstruction and thickening of blood vessel walls resulting to the development of atherosclerosis. The researchers believe that this phenomenon is brought about by the inhibition of vitamin E protein kinase, a special chemical within the body that may induce blood vessel wall dysfunction.

The verdict?

Vitamin E supplementation appears to be very beneficial in the health of people with Type 2 diabetes. So, why not try using this supplement starting today? As the old saying goes, an ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure.

“Losing weight” seems to be on the New Year agenda of most people. Among 10 people I asked “what your New Year resolution is, more than 6 people answered that they want to lose weight and get into shape! Well, not a bad trend, right? But why today particularly the younger generation admires being thin so much? Probably the ramp-models have the answer. The size zero is quickly becoming popular and even the middle aged moms are trying hard to fit in the jeans of their twenties. Is it the right thing or we need to think more?

Let’s see-

One thing is sure that having extra flab on the body is not a healthy sign. Flab means fat, not muscle. Therefore, losing this flab should be the priority no doubt. Lesser the activity level, more one should worry for the flab. Yes! Read the sentence carefully. Today scientists have found a great positive relation between health and activity level. Regular the exercise, lesser are the chances of ill-health relatively irrespective of your weight.

But one should also understand here that more the weight, lesser is the activity level in many cases (due to inability to move faster) and this further contributes to high fat. How to halt this vicious cycle?Can we?

The answer thankfully is YES!

If you were lean, thin and healthy in your twenties, you have every right to remain so in your mid-forties and thereafter too. What exactly goes wrong? Many women think that childbirth is the culprit that contributed to their flab. Many men think their highly stressful job is the reason. But the fact is that despite child birth and stressful jobs, there are men and women that can maintain ideal body weight and live healthy life. So, why can’t we? We can too!

What can be done?

Steer clear of myths-

1. We should follow strict diets if we want to lose weight- The foremost pre-requisite to idealize your weight and health is not to fall prey to the rumors. You must have seen (or done yourself) many people staying just on either bananas, hot water, soups, or ‘just’ vegetables for days together! This is one of the top myths that eating less will reduce your weight. It will not. It will just weaken your immune system and make you vulnerable to graver diseases. So firstly, stop any such staple diets if you are following. Our body needs enough quantity of all ingredients of diet including carbohydrates, proteins, fats, minerals, and trace elements to be able to cope with the wear and tear. Only-carbohydrate or Only-protein diets might help for a temporary duration to reduce weight (you tend to reduce muscle mass too during the process and not just fat). But once you wean off these diets, you tend to put on more weight, because obviously you cannot follow such stipulated diets for life (I hope you do not; otherwise…hats off to you!)
2. Having just 2 full-meals per day- Many elderly are happy because they feel we are eating just two times a day and not recurrently. This is another myth that makes us fat. When you leave larger gaps between your meals, you obviously tend to eat lot more than can be properly digestible. Therefore, the excess sugars and proteins tend to get converted into fat and it deposits beneath your skin and in the arteries (leading to atherosclerosis)
3. Eating fat-less diets can reduce weight- remember that fat is also an essential element of diet. Just we need to take it in stipulated quantity not to exceed beyond limits. Have seen many patients who deprive themselves of fat completely. What they get in turn is the shriveled old-looking skin. Fat is the natural moisturizer and toner for your body and therefore essential. Just reduce the excess quantity you eat and it will not affect you detrimentally.
4. Joining the gym is the only way to lose weight- well, here we are not belittling the importance of gym exercises but let’s not make it the rule. There are many ways of exercise by which you can stay fit. Rather, in many cases, some of the gym exercises are harmful for certain people. People with joint problems and cardiac disease should exercise great caution while joining the gym. More than that, stipulated kind of exercises for weeks and months together reduce the interest. Instead, engaging ourselves in different types of exercises keep our motivations alive for longer (probably this is what we need the most). You can jog, swim, dance, or cycle your way to health!

Treatment Regimes for losing weight-

• Lose your weight homeopathically-

We homeopaths always stress the importance of homeopathic treatment for weight reduction. Here I am not advertising any patent homeopathic medicine for weight loss. We are talking about classical homeopathy. Does it help? Yes, it helps in lot more ways than we anticipate. The major reason why homeopathic medicines help in weight reduction is their ability to act on mind.

“Mind” plays a very crucial role in maintaining or enhancing your weight. It is mind that makes you stressed and you tend to eat more or less. It is the mind that makes you dull to start your exercise regime. It is mind that encourages you too to take the issue of obesity seriously and do something constructive about it.

And homeopathy helps in all these aspects to shape your mind and make it do what needs to be done. It is not exaggeration. Have seen absolutely lazy patients take up exercise regimes scrupulously once they are on constitutional homeopathic treatment, because of the ability of homeopathic remedies to act on higher planes. Same goes true for maintaining ideal diets.

The homeopathic medicine also helps the person to tide over the hormonal imbalances that contribute to excess weight. Therefore, when a patient of hypothyroidism and/or polycystic ovarian disease starts homeopathic treatment, the apparent edema on the body disappears gradually and makes the patient fitter to achieve his or her goals.

• Exercise-

As discussed above, there is no option to exercising your way to health. If someone tells you to follow a regimen that excludes exercise for weight loss, they are lying to you! Try to inculcate variations in your regime not to get bored and feel energetic for years to come. Adding this component to your day to day life is the most rewarding experience you can give your body, mind, and spirit. Couple it with relaxing techniques and your benefits get doubled!

Some auxiliary tips for losing weight-

1. Drink at least 8 to 10 glasses of plain water per day
2. Have enough fiber, for it will boost up bowel health and avoid constipation. Also it is one of the sure shot ways to delay ageing
3. Recognize bodily deficiencies and seek natural supplementary help from an expert
4. Eat frequent small meals (preferably 2 to 3 hourly)
5. Be consistent in your regimens. To make that happen, set smaller goals and reward yourself when you accomplish them
6. Some meditation techniques help a great deal in stabilizing one’s absurd eating behavior and providing the essential motivation to do your best
7. Steer clear of the myths and don’t fall prey to heavy advertising of patent diet pills, unless you verify their authenticity via an expert

May the year 2011 bring lots of happiness, health and fitness for you to stay for life!

I can say that I now know why I am pursuing the healthier diet. It sparked in my while listening to Brain Tracy’s book, “No Excuses”. He says (I paraphrase), if you come from work and for dinner eat a large slice of apple pie topped with a big scoop of ice cream, how much desire to eat healthy will you have afterwards?

The Sliding Scale

This got me to thinking about my own diet history and how our eating habits are on this ever moving sliding scale. The healthier I eat, the better I feel; the better I feel, the healthier I eat. When you are eating healthy, which we’ll define as eating lots of fresh fruits and vegetables, lots of salads and lean proteins, very little junk food and sugary drinks, you feel motivated to eat healthy.

Now one evening you either go out to eat or to a friend’s house for dinner and you slide down to a less than healthy meal. It’s not big problem for a meal but sometimes that one meal sets into motion a downward slide. You begin craving fattier foods and the healthier stuff isn’t looking so exciting. And you watch yourself slide toward the unhealthy side of the scale.

But it works in the other direction, too. You begin eating some fruit, eating lighter maybe salads for lunch. Then you find yourself not so hungry during the day and craving less junk and fattening food. You reach for an apple when you want a snack. So you bump it up to a healthier and healthier level. You begin sliding up the scale of healthy eating because you made the shift.

The Shift

The shift occurs at some point, somewhere in the mind. It’s not something that happens overnight. It’s something that happens slowly over time. Time is a very important part of any shift that takes place in the mind.

The lighter and better we eat, the better we can think and work. As all things release energy, eating the raw, fresh fruits and vegetables aid in aligning ourselves with those energies. Being in nature does this too. These living things eliminate great vibes that the body can pick up and absorb. That is why walking outside is so therapeutic.

As your thoughts shift to better feelings and desires of a better body, you’ll reach for better feeling foods, foods that inspire and foods that have you feeling good after you’ve eaten them.

Eat to please and to nourish

Eat in ways that nourish your body, your spirit and your relationships. Enjoy those times you can celebrate with friends and family over cooked meals that bring you joy. Eat and drink the healthier foods when you need to connect with your Inner-Self or need to work better.

Bring yourself up in the food chain and you will see yourself taken to new heights. Eat real. And it’s ok to enjoy the preparations that you have come to love and enjoy but don’t let them become your only joy. Your body can handle absolutely everything as long as your mind is in full agreement. It’s your mind that decides. Let your food be thy guide not your only source of love.

There is much more known about diabetes now than in the past, and one of the surprising discoveries is that diet and exercise play a big role in the control and management of the disease. When you were first diagnosed with diabetes, your doctor probably recommended that you see a nutritionist so that they could review your case and create a special diet for you.

How is diet used in the management of Type 2 diabetes?

Depending on the type of diabetes that you have, your meal plan may be similar to a heart healthy diet plan, or it may be more restricted in nature. Type II diabetes often occurs in adults due to obesity and an unhealthy lifestyle. This form of the disease can be managed by eating healthy foods that are very similar to what everyone else eats when on a diet. In fact, type 2 diabetes sugar control with diet and exercise is highly recommended. A good eating guideline to follow is the American Diabetes Association Exchange Diet.

No matter how long you have had diabetes, you’ll need to face the reality that you will need to make some major lifestyle changes in order to avoid serious health complications. Simply ignoring your doctor’s recommendations, and choosing to continue eating foods that are laden with fat and calories, is going to result in an eventual break down of your system.

You see, when you have diabetes, your blood glucose levels are already too high. When you eat certain foods that contain sugar, those levels can rise to dangerous heights. The worst case scenario would be you going into a diabetic coma. In order to prevent this from happening, you need to start eating healthy and exercising immediately. You’ll need to start paying close attention to what foods to eat with type 2 diabetes.

What Kind of Foods Can You Eat Safely?

One of the big downsides to being diagnosed with diabetes used to be that you would be condemned to a life of eating totally bland foods. Fortunately, modern research has found that you can eat regular meals that are bursting with flavor – as long as they are prepared the healthy way.

Meats

You can pretty much eat any piece of lean meat or fish as long as you don’t overdo it. Meats do not contribute to your sugar levels.

Carbohydrates

Here’s where things get a bit tricky. As you have probably already discovered, foods rich in complex carbohydrates break down in the body as sugar. So, when you eat lots of starchy potatoes, breads or anything made with white flour, white rice or corn, these foods can sometimes send your body into the danger zone without you even realizing it. This is why your intake of complex carbs has to be closely monitored at all times.

Carbohydrates are very beneficial to the body and is something that is needed for general health. But, some foods have carbs that are filled with empty sugar without much nutritional value, and other foods have carbs that break down well inside the body and provide you with lots of energy. Most diabetic diet plans include foods containing carbs like bread, yams, potatoes, cereals, etc. If you follow the recommendations, you’ll be eating the right amount of carbs for your body type and skipping ones that don’t give you any benefits.

You should go for the healthier variety. Most fruits that contain simple carbs are okay. You can even make yourself a healthy protein shake in the morning with your favorite fruit and some protein powder. Also, you can choose whole grain breads, cereals and pasta.

Vegetables

As long as it doesn’t contain starch, you can eat just about any vegetable known to mankind. This includes: broccoli, tomatoes, celery, chilies, lettuce, cabbage, peppers, carrots and spinach. This wonderful array of vegetables will not only keep your weight under control, but it will also make your meal plate a lot more colorful.

Sweets

Are you doomed to eating diabetic candy and cookies for the rest of your life?

Not necessarily. Many people with diabetes can eat normal sweets that contain sugar, it’s just that you really need to restrict how often you eat them. For instance, every so often you can indulge in a small portion of cake, pie or a scoop of ice cream. These are special treats and you should relish every bite. Allow yourself to feel satisfied and never go back for seconds.

Snacks

For those times that you get hungry between meals and you just have to have a snack of some sort, don’t reach for that bag of potato chips or pretzels. And, don’t even think about grabbing a candy bar from the vending machine. You need to pre-plan for these moments so that you have a healthy alternative.

Fruits – You can always have fresh fruit around at home or at work so that you can enjoy a natural sugar boost.

Vegetables – Cut up some carrots, celery or green peppers and put them into a food container along with some hummus or other healthy veggie dip.

Nuts – Eat a handful of sunflower seeds, almonds or walnuts. Or, you can combine some nut butter with either your fresh vegetables or fruit.

Shakes and Smoothies – Buy yourself a smoothie machine and mix up a healthy smoothie or protein shake. You can add just about any type of fruit or vegetable to a smoothie or protein shake, and create an absolutely delicious snack or meal replacement.